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Deanie Jackson
TUESDAY, June 26, 2018 / Vol. 4 Issue 26 / 75 cents
Highway 65 speed limit lowered In case you hadn’t noticed, the speed limit on accident-ridden Highway 65 between Clinton and Bee Branch has been lowered to 45 mph as roadwork continues. County Judge Roger Hooper said he and Clinton Mayor Richard McCormac approached the state Highway Department together to slow traffic down. In other road news, Hooper said Maxine road has been repaire and chip and seal will start soon on Dabney Road. Also at last Thursday’s Quorum Court meeting, the Van Buren County sheriff’s office, represented by Chief Deputy Max Young, detailed its work from May 1-May 31. Young said there were13 domestic calls, 19 domestic assaults, 16 accidents including county, state and assists, four no child-restraint citations, and 20 criminal arrests. The investigative division worked seven theft cases, three breaking and entering, two car thefts, two assaults, three frauds, one rape and one case of vandalism, as well as other cases. He said the sheriff’s office has worked 320 more domestic calls under Sheriff Randy Gurley than it did during the same period last year under the previous administration. He said the sheriff’s office now had two more officers on the road. However, on the topic of patrol, the department is facing a shortfall in its budget for
Influx of cats strains shelter
The animal shelter received 15 cats last week. The shelter needs help.
fuel. It is budgeted for $65,000 for fuel in 2018 and has already spent $43,000-plus. There is currently $21,336 left in the budget for fuel. Currently, the jail is so full of local residents that it can’t take any more federal prisoners, Young said. Board of Governors Chairman Donnie Collins gave a brief report about the hospital. He
said everything is going well. He said they have let part of the painting $20,000 - that is to be done and have some drainage issues that need to be tended to. He said there also has been problems with the air-conditioning and the board had to order $30,000 worth of parts. The JPs also approved an ordinance to take out a five-year
July 4th
Just a reminder that The Voice office will be closed Wedmesday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day. There are a couple of great opportunities to enjoy some fantastic fireworks in the county. Enjoy and be careful!
Runoff
In a sight not as common as a couple of years ago, a drilling rig is spotted on Highway 16 East last week. (Photo by Robert Snyder)
Lucas Emberton has taken the Republican nomination for Van Buren County sheriff after a 904-557 win over Kenny Dunham in the runoff election held June 19. Emberton now faces Democrat Eric Koonce and Independent candidate Paul Rice in Novem-
Fifteen cats were handed over to Van Buren County Animal Control last week from an owner in Bee Branch. They were taken straight to SNYP AR Animal Shelter in Clinton. Cats and kittens, big and little, shorthair, long-hair, gray stripes … added to the 12 felines already at the shelter. Lori Treat, SNYP director, said all of the new cats tested negative for ailments. But now, the struggling shelter is in need of help - money, bleach, cat litter are in short supply. It was one year ago, July 1, 2017, when Lori Treat’s 501(c)3 took over the shelter. It has been an uphill struggle all the way. Treat thought she would be able to get 100 Van Buren County families to pledge $20 per month to cover the shelter’s utilities and payroll. Instead, she had gotten onSee Cats on page 6 $77,000 unsecured loan with First Service Bank to pay for 911 equipment updates. The vote was unanimous. Todd Burgess was not present. The Quorum Court meets at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Courthouse Annex. The meetings are open to the public.
Pearl Mahaney, the state’s oldest resident, passed away June 19.
State’s oldest resident dies in Clinton at 107 Oct. 31, 1910: Sixteen sticks of dynamite planted inside the Los Angeles Times offices went off triggering an explosion of underground gas lines and a subsequent fire, killing 21 employees. Twenty-three American sailors from the battleship USS New Hampshire drowned when their launch capsized. The first ever midair collision occurred in Milan, Italy, when an Antoinette monoplane rammed a Farman biplane. Both pilots were injured in the crash. Miles away from all these disasters, baby Iva Pearl Crown was born. She shared her birth date with Bonnie Parker, the American outlaw and partner of Clyde Barrow. Parker died in a shootout in 1934. Pearl’s life was just getting started. Pearl’s children have documentation that their mother was the oldest living person in Arkansas and the second oldest in the United States, according to Pearl’s friend Kay
Weaver. Born to Abram J. Crown and Kathryn Raley, Pearl married VIrgil Lee Mahaney on July 17, 1926. Lee passed away in April 1981. Pearl lived a long, full life and some say she was, in fact, a pearl to everyone she met. She loved her family. She was dedicated in her faith and attended Shirley First Baptist Church. Pearl also had a sweet tooth and enjoyed her birthday cakes during her final years at the nursing home in Clinton. She also enjoyed her birthday cards from governors, presidents and local dignitaries. Weaver remembers Pearl’s bright smile and cherishes the memory that one of the last times she visited, Pearl was in a happy mood and told her she loved her. Iva Pearl Crown Mahaney lived more than 39,300 days. She died June 19, 2018. Pearl was laid to rest Saturday next to her husband in Shady Grove cemetery.
ber. Good luck to all.
Farm Family
Jared and Lacey Standridge of Dennard have won the judging in the North Central District. The Standridges operate Hartsugg Cattle Company where they raise longhorn cattle for lease, beef cattle and show cattle. They have three children, Sydney, Sam and Shelby. The district winners will now be judged to determine a state winner to be announced Dec. 6 at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock.
James Eason, 95, is congratulated for his 71 years of Masonic service by Gene Christensen, 2018 Master of Sam Williams Lodge 89 in Edgemont.
95-year-old Mason receives 70-year pin By Lee Phillips
Two dozen members and their families were on hand at Sam Williams Lodge 89 this past Saturday to honor James Carrel Eason. Eason, 95, received his 70-year Masonic pin. Brother Eason, a World War II Navy veteran, was raised as a Master Mason on
August 9, 1947, when the lodge was in Eglantine. That building is now under Greers Ferry Lake. Sam Williams Lodge 89 was chartered in 1869 and the lodge building is now in Edgemont. Brother Eason was also given a 2018 commemorative Grand Master’s pocket knife.